First lady of song celebrated with concert by a jazz artist

Jazz vocalist Annette Gregory is bringing her show celebrating the music of Ella Fitzgerald to Uppingham Theatre.

She will celebrate the music of Ella Fitzgerald at the venue on Friday June 10 starting at 7.30pm.

Annette, backed by her band, celebrates the contribution to jazz music made by Ella, with music from various songbooks including many well-known swing tunes and beautiful ballads.

Annette reflects on Ella’s early career and through the decades to via the song book albums that made Ella Fitzgerald one of the greatest icons of jazz and gave her the title The First Lady of Song.

The concert features many of Ella Fitzgerald’s best loved songs, such as Mack The Knife, The Lady is a Tramp and The Man I Love, sung by talented vocalist, Annette Gregory.

It introduces fresh re-workings and new arrangements of classic songs as well as presenting some of the most popular jazz standards in a more traditional format - with a great feel, improvised solos, a swinging band and all led by an accomplished jazz vocalist.

Between the tunes, Annette narrates Ella’s story, highlighting moments in the career of a great jazz icon.

Annette said: “I love jazz and am passionate about the sound which Ella Fitzgerald brought to music. I want to share that with everyone.”

She is a new name on the jazz scene. After singing for many years in different bands, it was a chance encounter which led to Annette joining a community jazz band as their principal vocalist which set Annette firmly on the road to becoming a jazz singer.

Annette has a wealth of experience in singing to live audiences and she has now decided to focus entirely on singing in her favourite genre – jazz.

After recording her EP Living The Dream in 2015, Annette decided to develop a show to pay homage to the great jazz singer and celebrate the life and the songs of Ella Fitzgerald.

Annette’s concept of the show simply being “to share my love of Ella Fitzgerald”.